My Garden, Your Table

...is a personal chef service in the Adirondacks specializing in in-home preparation of meals for the busy family. I also offer cooking classes, vacation catering, grocery shopping, and catering for smaller events. Contact me today to see how I can help you eat healthfully and deliciously, for less money than you may think.

Tip #7: Oven’s on? Make lots!

When it comes to the day-to-day feeding of myself and my family, I am just as likely to be caught without a plan as anyone else. When I lived in the Boston area, this was no big deal; we could get take-out or go out to eat. Living in a rural area where nearby restaurant options are extremely limited, I need a different Plan B. To help with this, I often ask my oven to do double-duty.

It takes just about the same time to roast double the amount of potatoes, squash, garlic, and other vegetables as it does to roast a single meal’s worth; the only addition is the prep time. While there are some nights that prepping just one more Brussels sprout might send me over the edge, most of the time prepping double is no big deal. Roasted Brussels sprouts can be a side dish tonight, and can be tossed with leftover chicken, garlic, some Balsamic vinegar, and cooked pasta or another grain for a quick main later in the week. Ditto just about any roasted vegetable.

Roast two chickens (or poach extra chicken breasts) and you have meals for days. Use the chicken in enchiladas, soups, casseroles, sandwiches…none of the meals have to be the same, especially if the chicken is simply seasoned with salt and pepper. Roast two chickens and two sheet trays of vegetables, and later meals are wicked fast: throw shredded chicken and vegetables in some warm broth and you have soup; combine them with cooked quinoa and something crunchy like chopped nuts or raw vegetables and you have a grain bowl. Open a can of beans, chop some lettuce, warm some tortillas, and it is Taco Tuesday with Sunday’s roast.

This make-extra ethos also applies to cooking extra dried beans, quinoa, barley, millet, rice…you get the picture. Keep things simply seasoned so that later in the week you can change up your flavors by simply adding herbs and spices.

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast
2 quarts chicken broth
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1. Place the chicken in a Dutch oven, sprinkle with salt and pepper, cover with broth to about an inch over the chicken (use water if necessary to make enough liquid to cover) and bring to a boil. Immediately turn the heat to low, skim any scum that has come to the surface, cover with a lid, and cook for 8-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken breasts. Remove the chicken and reserve the liquid.
2. Thinly slice half of the chicken breasts and use two forks to shred the other half. Chicken can be refrigerated at this point, or used in the recipes that follow. Save the broth, too!

Bring the broth to a boil and add the garlic, celery and carrot. Lower the heat to medium and simmer until the vegetables are starting to soften, 5-7 minutes. Add the Bok Choy, peas, and snow peas and cook just until the peas and snow peas are done–you want the snow peas a little crunchy–3-4 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the soy sauce, ginger, and sliced chicken.

Place 1/4 of the noodles in the bottom of each of four bowls. Use tongs to transfer 1/4 of the chicken and vegetables to each bowl, and ladle 1/4 of the broth over each bowl. Top as desired.

Prepare a 13 x 9 baking dish by spraying with cooking spray, and preheat the oven to 350.

1. Warm the poaching liquid over medium heat to a simmer and add the chicken, beans, and spinach. Stir to wilt the spinach and remove from the heat.
2. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken mixture to a bowl. Add 1/4 cup poaching liquid, 1/4 cup enchilada sauce, 1/2 cup shredded cheese, and the sautéed vegetables, if using. Stir to combine.
3. Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of the chicken mixture* into each corn tortilla, roll up, and place seam-side down in prepared baking dish. Top enchiladas with remaining sauce, remaining cheese, and 4 chopped scallions. Cover pan with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 5-10 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and starting to turn lightly golden in spots. Remove from oven, sprinkle with additional scallions if desired, and let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Search

My Garden, Your Table is happy to support:

*Reber Rock Farm
*North Country Creamery
*Mace Chasm Farm
*North Country Co-op
*Juniper Hill Farm
*Essex Farm
*Palmer's Organic Pork Farm
and other local farms, dairies, and stores.
Let me help you figure out what to do with your Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) haul!

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 309 other followers

Can you cook gluten-free/vegetarian/Paleo/etc. meals?

My Garden, Your Table will tailor your meals to any dietary needs you may have. My current clients range from devout carnivores to vegans and from the gluten-free to carbohydrate lovers. Part of the initial trial period includes time to discuss what you want your meals to look like each week.

Search

Search for:

Hours of Operation

My Garden, Your Table is open 7 days a week and available from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.

To allow for celebrations with my own family, I am closed on Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve day, Christmas, and New Year's Eve day. I am happy to come in a day or two before these holidays to do all the preparation, though, so that you can focus on your guests.